A One-sided Scoreline and a Similar Take on the Match Review

As the Watsonians team met for their team briefing at the side of the Tipperlin turf it became apparent that they were all firmly in the midst of a true ‘Indian Summer’. With the sun piercing down, and his nose reddening with every word, the message from McCurdy was clear. If the boys in maroon were to secure the first 3 points of their potential 6 point weekend then hard work and good quality hockey had to be the order of the day.

The game started well for ‘Sonians as the news broke in the changing rooms that new signing Scott Sutherland’s deadline day paperwork had finally been filed. Sutherland’s arrival in the squad offered restbite to the team as the news that current dragflicker Kinloch’s awry leg wax was worse than first feared. 6 key hairs ripped from the shin region mean that the blonde bombshell will be spending the coming months manning the squad’s stopwatch and counting the dirty entries for the team. On a far more positive note though, Sutherland’s impact was immediate. A quick attack led to an early chance for the enthusiastic Swan and he did well to find a Greenock foot. Sutherland stepped up and rifled the ball high into the net, a finish even the Falkirk keeper would have struggled to handle.

Watsonians continued to take control of the match and set a fast early tempo which Greenock struggled to cope with. This sustained early pressure told and it wasn’t long before the ‘Sonians had again penetrated the Greenock D. Greenock did manage to prevent a shot on goal but their efforts were deemed illegal in this instance and Sutherland was provided with the opportunity to double his tally from the spot, which he duly did. The Ex Watson’s man wasn’t done there though and on his return to his boyhood turf he was determined to get his hat-trick before half time. A wish which was realised only minutes later. A lovely passage of play down the right had the crowd on their feet. Hollis, Ogle and Swan were involved in a perfectly executed piece of play which was straight from the training ground and the latter managed to win the corner with a neat first time lay-off. Scott stepped up to the top of the circle and he made no mistake as he again fired a flick past the helpless Greenock keeper.

Greenock were not to be kept down for too long however. A mix up in the maroon midfield zone allowed a hit and hope from the blue and white backline to have added hope. The Greenock forward showed good composure as he fortuitously found himself 1 on 1 with the on rushing Campbell. He rounded Campbell to his left and finished tidily on the reverse to bring the west coast outfit back within 2.
Half time 3-1.

Conceding just before half-time had been the wakeup call that the Maroon men needed and they quickly returned to the dominant and fast paced hockey that had helped to build their 3 goal lead. A well won set piece provided the perfect opportunity to restore the 3 goal advantage and as Sutherland was taking a spell on the bench it was left to the big beaked Australian Sands to do just that. A tame effort from the Aussie somehow managed to trickle its way to the bottom left of the goal. The strike may not have reached the backboard but it was deemed to have crossed the line and the margin was back to 3.

Watsonians continued to dominate the match and their sustained possession was really beginning to have the desired effect on the Greenock team as they tired and began to leave bigger spaces for their opponents to exploit. This tiredness told as the Greenock men looked to play their way out of a defensive 16 they were met with a lively Watson’s frontline. Jamie Brown and Rich McCorkell applied the pressure and their doggedness was rewarded as Brown robbed the left back and looked to drive along the Greenock baseline. With his silky skills he rinsed the approaching defenders and beautifully cut the ball back to the penalty spot to leave his fellow Northern Irishman with an easy finish.

Greenock weren’t done there though and they duly fought back to create two chances in quick succession. The first of those saw a sloppy tackle in the circle rewarded with a somewhat generous penalty flick which reduced the Greenock arrears to 3. The 2nd a well one short corner which the Greenock captain converted with sublime accuracy. An effective drag flick eluded the on rushing Swarbrick and brushed the inside of the right hand upright to leave Campbell with no chance. It wasn’t long however before the fortune had once again reversed and this time it was Watsons who were awarded a potentially generous penalty flick. With Sutherland unaware of the umpire’s faux pax he had headed for the bench and this left the responsibility with McCorkell to get the home side back in a comfortable lead. Just like his compatriot, Michael McKenna, the previous fixture he failed to find the net.

With the scoreline at 5-3 it was time for the Maroon men to find the next gear. And find it they did in somewhat sensational fashion. Perhaps still infuriated by his decision to turn his back on play and miss out on a PF, Sutherland took the game by the scruff of the neck. A stunning a piece of vision from Beattie allowed Sutherland to pick the ball up in midfield and drive at the Greenock defence. He skipped past the first two defenders with ease before eluding the last of the blue and white backline at the edge of the D. A poor tackle from the Greenock man prompted an angry cry from Scott but he somehow managed to maintain his composure mid-scream as he outrageously lobbed the dumbfounded Greenock goalie. A magical goal which would have been a sure contender for goal of the game or perhaps even goal of the season had it not been for what was to come.

At this stage ‘Sonians were really turning on the style and the intensity of their play was proving too much for the west coasters. The crowd had turned up in their numbers for this match and what they saw next was worth every penny of the entry fee. Just as Greenock thought they had evaded the Watsonians forward line a long ball was duly intercepted by Beattie well inside his own 25. Beattie tenaciously stepped in front of his man and took the ball in his stride as he began to drive forward. Options seemed limited to the young right back but he refused to yield possession. He skipped past one, then another and another as he continued his surge in to the Greenock half. The pace of the attack was proving too much for the supporting players as they began to slow and simply watch in amazement. The crowd too fell silent as they urged Beattie to continue. Continue he did as he neared the circle. Greenock tried to throw one final defender in his way but the tricky Scotsman wiggled his hips and slid the ball carefully past the helpless opponent. A couple of brave men in maroon had managed to last the distance with the courageous Beattie and they offered options in the D but there was only one way all those inside Tipperlin wanted this to end and that was with the artist applying the final stroke to his masterpiece. A final shimmy of the hips created a yard of space at the top of the circle and Beattie drew back his weapon and fired the final blow. The ball flew past the ‘keeper and thudded off the backboard leaving the ‘Sonians faithful triumphant. They rose to their feet to applaud what many believe to be the goal to end all goals. Beattie, ever the professional, chose to ignore the rapturous reception and headed speedily back to his position to help the team close out the remainder of the fixture. A truly special moment worthy of winning any fixture.
The maroon men finished the game well and a lovely passage of play involving Beattie, McCurdy and Swarbrick left an easy tap in for Swan. Part 1 of the 6 point weekend complete.

Final score Watsonians 8 v 3 Greenock.
Scorers: Sutherland 4, Sands 1, McCorkell 1, Beattie 1, Swan 1.

Match Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ow-P5V72z8c